By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles School District urgently needs bus drivers and paraeducators and are hiring to fill several open positions as soon as possible.

Director of Transportation Karen Ross says 3 substitute drivers are needed at a starting rate of $21.96 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours, though it’s usually more.

“Full time work for us is pretty much two hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon. Sometimes, maybe a little bit more, but that’s all you basically need to have so at least you’re eligible for benefits and holidays and all that other good stuff that comes along, you know, with that as well.”

Drivers will need a CDL and state certification, but the district can provide the training and help needed to qualify.

As for paraeducators, Director of Human Resources Scott Harker says they need 19 new hires to fill out a total staff of about 100. He would like to have them hired in time for the first day of school, which is September 2.

We asked him about the qualifications needed.

“There’s two basic requirements. Number one is either a high school diploma or a GED. The second is, either a college degree, could be an AA, a comparable number of college credits, or passing a basic skills test, ParaPro exam. And we can help people get signed up to take that exam, and its online.”

Currently the starting wage for a paraeducator is just under $20 per hour, and you will be in the teacher’s union.

“These are Association jobs. And so, if you are working more than three- and-a-half hours a day, you qualify for full benefits.”

Go to portangelesschools.org to learn more.